IIDD, Aug 3rd

Pat,

Jim and I enjoyed a two and a half hour ride through the countryside and several small villages that only a local could know. Jim managed his jet-lag very well and was very strong on the hills. In the meantime, Sylvia and Christine went into town returning with lamb for the bbq and a variety of cakes, all delicious. They are driving us to my home town, Hartlepool where we stay with other, old friends. Managed to return the rental car this morning to York with Jim's help.
It's very nice being in their home with them.
Ray


Hi Whirlissimo!

Buona Fortuna with squash today. I probably won't ride until later. Having dinner in North Van with Dom Marcellino, et al, so plan to ride there. Cora has a shift at WISH so she'll take my car and then I'll put bike on rack to make journey home.

I think 7:00am will work on Wednesday. I'll confirm later. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Hi Vincenzo and Donna Forget-Me-Not!

Glad you liked snaps! Just riding up hill, from Cal to Villa Vicente is Tour de California aplenty! Weather, in fact, is more than wonderful. Finally!

Having dinner with Dom Marcellino and Gianna, Kersten and Per, (Swedish Connection), this evening, at Jane's Dad's place. I will cycle there, over Lion's Gate Bridge and into West Vancouver, as Cora Lee is working at WISH until 8:00pm. She'll take my car to volunteer stint and then I can put bike on rack before coming home. Fondestos and Cheers, Il Conduttore!

PS: Thought that you might like to try Whirlygig's salsa!

Hi Nicolina and Marvinator!

Thought of you two last night as we were watching Masterpiece Mystery. Present series is about Aurelio Zen, a detective in Rome!

Here are two addresses for Fiona:

Fiona Leu: fiona_leu@gmx.ch

Fiona Leu: fiona_leu@hotmail.com

Not sure which one is best or if Hotmail account is still valid/used.

Having dinner with Dom Marcellino and Gianna, (his Canadian girlfriend), Kersten, (DM's sister), and Per (her boyfriend), The Swedish Connection, this evening, at Jane's Dad's place in West Van, just over Lion's Gate Bridge. I will cycle there as Cora Lee is working at WISH until 8:00pm. She'll take my car to volunteer stint and then I can put bike on rack before coming home. Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!


Hi Dearest Penelope!

Very pleased that you plan to retire in mid-December. As you say, I certainly hope you don't collapse before then, given the travel, parties and house/flat moves/renovations! Is Anna renting out her flat in Mill Hill? Did Anna and Leon buy the cottage in Bushey? Are they close to Carol? Helo to her, and Heather, when she arrives.Have to start calling you The Black Widow after hearing about the chap who was stricken after realizing he had been involved with you twenty years ago! No wonder I came down with a serious sinus infection last time we visited!!!

Had a lovely dinner last night with Kersten and Per, sister/boyfriend of our friend Kjell, chap we stayed with in Stockholm last August. They were using Jane's, (Kjell's Canadian girlfriend's), father's flat while in Vancouver. Her dad is in a nursing home at moment and it is doubtful that he will ever be able to move back to his apartment. Too bad, for obvious reasons, but even more of a shame as it has one of the most incredible views of English Bay, Point Grey, etc., I have ever seen. Cora Lee had a shift at WISH and Jane was working at West Van Library, so the four of us sat around and visited, drinking in the spectacular vista while tippling wine and beer, until goils arrived, just after 9:00pm.

Kersten and Per leave tomorrow so it was terrific that we could see them again as they are both such interesting and lovely people. Discovered that Per works for a small investment firm, (He is fairly well off, I gather, and has already "retired" twice!), and his portfolio has to do with the film industry. He said that his firm was the only "external" investor, (typical investors being Swedish Film Institute, film producers themselves, etc.), to put money into the Stieg Larsson films. I asked him how much they had invested and he said around $1,000,000. Assume it was $US, given timing. At any rate, it has brought nothing but a huge return on initial investment and looks like windfall could go on for many years, given popularity of both film and television series. I had not realized that the TV series was a longer version of three films. Apparently, films were simply edited to fit typical feature film running length. I'd like to obtain DVD's for TV series as I enjoyed all of films so much and am curious to see parts that were cut for big screen.

Before we knew it , it was close to midnight and we had to let our hosts go to bed as they were trying to pack as much in to their last two days as possible. Didn't even have a snort of malt before we said our thanks and goodbyes and farewells to Kersten and Per as I was designated driver. Streets were almost completely deserted as we drove to Lions Gate through West Van, although there was a bit more activity on Denman once we were close to English Bay.

Up at 6:30am to go riding with Whirlygig at 7:00am. After he collected me we made for Stanley Park and did a loop up and over Lions Gate. I pointed out route I had taken, previous evening, along Bellvue, street which parallels Marine. We hope to ride to Horseshoe Bay before the end of the summer, so this is the route we will follow to take us to the Lower Levels highway. Back up and over LG, enjoying the mirrored surface of English Bay, nary a ripple to mar the unbelievably calm surface. Waved goodbye to Giorgio at 9:15am as he had to be home by 9:30am as Tia Maria was returning from a sleep-over at a friend's house then.

I had decided I'd head out to UBC before returning home myself. Wasn't sure just how far I was prepared to cycle but once I was past UBC and had 52K on the odometer, I knew that I could break 100K. Following my regular route, I took my time and when all was said and done, I had logged 121.15K by time I was at The Island Inn, a few minutes before 2:00pm. Felt pretty good, all things considered, as this is the longest ride I've ever done and my feet never touched the ground once for the entire 7 hours! (This mainly for the benefit of my cycling companions as I am known to circle around and around, at red traffic lights, for instance, so that I don't have to stop until the light changes!)

Cora Lee and I are off to a bbq this evening, at the home of the Chair of the Board of VPL so looking forward to meeting some of the movers and shakers in the public library world. Will have to be on my best behaviour as Corinne is the President of The Friends of VPL. Have received explicit instructions that I am not allowed to "howl" or otherwise embarrass her! Maybe I'll just wear a different coloured Croc on each foot!!! Fondestos and Cheers, Patrizio!

Pics: Took Mom for a stroll to Granville Island yesterday and then brought her to our patio to see Maggie. Kjell; Kersten, Per; Jane, Cora Lee, Per.